(n.) The defacto gold star standard for delivering products and/or services within a projected timeframe. Derived from the original Star Trek series wherein Lt. Cmdr. Montgomery 'Scotty' Scott consistently made the seemingly impossible happen just in time to save the crew of the Enterprise from disaster.

The premise is simple:

1) Caluculate average required time for completion of given task.

2) Depending on importance of task, add 25-50% additional time to original estimate.

3) Report and commit to inflated time estimate with superiors, clients, etc.

4) Under optimal conditions the task is completed closer to the original time estimate vs. the inflated delivery time expected by those waiting.

The following situation is a simulation of the Scotty Principle in practice.

Kirk: "The ship seems sluggish today. When was the last time you did a tune-up on the warp drive?"

Scotty: "Aye, sir. She's due. Last maintenance was 56 days ago."

Kirk: (light chuckle) "Well, what are you waiting for? An ambush from cloaked Romulans?"

Scotty: "I'll need to check how much dilithium we have in supply, but she'll be better than new in no time."

Kirk: "And that will be...?"

Scotty: "Six hours."

--- four hours later ---

Scotty: "All done, sir. Care to test her out?"

--- Enterprise taken rapidly to warp 3, does a few doughnuts, comes to a smooth stop ---

(adj.) descriptive of an entity or situation where something once small and relatively insignificant grows exponentially at a swift pace, engulfing everything in its path. A more dramatic progression than the classic domino effect. The basic workings of a literal snowball effect can be illustrated by taking one's average baseball-sized snowball and dropping it down the side of a snowy hill. As it descends it gathers more snow and whatever leaves, sticks, etc. are in its way. The snowball accumulates not only size, but speed.

When Mortal Combat was first released, there were numerous instances of fans going to largely populated areas, like college campuses and shopping malls, and yelling "MORTAL COMBAT!!!" at the top of their lungs. Others withing earshot who understood this cry would do the same. Depending on just how many in the know heard and participated, created an amazing, echoing snowball effect.

(n.) A fan, avid or otherwise, of at least one Star Trek series or movie. Devotees who totally immerse themselves in this subculture have given this term a somewhat negative stereotype, turning the majority of the fan base into the butt of many lame jokes. More "reality based" Trekkies, hoping to differentiate themselves from the habituous character-emulating, convention-attending crowd, choose to accept the label of "Trekker".

"John has the entire 3 seasons of the original Star Trek on DVD. What a Trekkie!"

"Nah... John's more of a Trekker. At least he doesn't go to half a dozen conventions a year dressed as a Klingon."

(n.) derivative word form resulting from the combination of "ebony" (referring to pigmentation) and "phonics". An evolving form of American English popularized in multimedia. Once only heard/spoken primarily in impoverished urban neighborhoods, it has infiltrated American culture to the point where some of the nation's largest public school districts even considered teaching it as part of the general curriculum.

The "For Dummies" publishing company would make a mint if they printed an "Ebonics For Dummies" title.